PSY496

1. Interpersonal Violence
ELISA CHAMBERS
PSY 496 APPLIED PROJECT
DR. A. GILSTON
SEPTEMBER, 2015

2. Interpersonal/Domestic violence
 Domestic violence does not discriminate among socio-economic classes.
According to the 2014 report from the National Institution of Justice and
the Center for Disease control one in four women are victims of violence
from a domestic partner(NIJ.CDC, 2014). Children and even men are
victims of domestic violence. Assistance from mental health professionals is
essential in providing services and rescue assistance to the victims as well
as working with the perpetrators to interrupt the violent behavior in as
many cases as possible. There are many available techniques for working
with victims of domestic violence, two experts in the field will provide
support for specific techniques.

3. Experts in the Field
Domestic Violence Counselor
 Education: Bachelors Degree in
Psychology, M.A. in Clinical Mental
Health Counseling, Certified Domestic
Violence Counselor Credential from The
National Association of Forensic
Counselors.
 Professional experience: 4 years as
YMCA DV counselor. Domestic Violence
Counselor at ATTIC Correctional Services.
Currently working at Community
Counseling and Evaluation Services/
Domestic Violence Facilitator.
Social Worker
 Education: Bachelor’s degree in
Psychology, Master’s Degree in Social
work.
 Professional Experience: 3 years
assistant to social worker at Battered
Women’s Shelter. 2 years employed as
Hospital E.R. Social Worker. Currently
working as Social Worker at Family
Community Center.

4. Domestic Violence Counselor:
Research: Evaluating counselling approaches
through research on client opinion and feedback.
This qualitative study is limited by its small sample size but it provides support for practice-based evidence
of counselling approaches when working with victims of domestic violence. It identifies common
obstacles that occur in the counseling process of these victims such as: the longer the abuse went on the
harder it is for the victim to confide with their counselor.
In addition this study suggests that counselors of domestic violence should be knowledgeable of many
therapeutic techniques shown to be effective, but should always be flexible and evaluate the use of the
technique as well as the duration of the therapeutic process based on individual needs.
Roddy, J. K. (2013). Client perspectives: The therapeutic challenge of domestic violence counselling – a
pilot study. Counselling & Psychotherapy Research, 13(1), 53-60. doi:10.1080/14733145.2012.711340

5. Social Worker Research: The developmental
effects of domestic violence on children.
In her role as a Social Worker, she has worked with victims and perpetrators of Domestic Violence within the courts, emergency
rooms and shelters. Her role at the shelter includes screening and protection planning for battered women and children victims
of domestic violence as well as individual and group counselling. Currently she is conducting my first group therapy with
children, inspired by research supporting the effectiveness of working with children victims of domestic violence in a group
setting.
Group therapy is one approach to help these victims acquire trust, self-esteem, interpersonal skills and a sense of personal
safety. Yet research into the process of group therapy for children exposed to domestic violence is still limited. The following
research study supports the effectiveness of group therapy for children who have been exposed to DV:
Evaluation through a qualitative case study of 4 young victim witnesses of domestic violence on the effectiveness of group and
play therapy on alleviating the long-term ramifications of domestic violence on developmental stages of children. The
observational data collected aimed to answer two research questions:
1. Did group development occur during the sessions?
2. Were there two way or group dynamics that occurred among the children that aided the overall group development?
The results of this study showed that although manifested in different ways, children in group therapy experience similarities to
the 4 typical stages of adult group therapy. In each stage they were able to make improvements and acquire some of the
developmental objectives set out for the group.
Thompson, E. H. (2011). The Evolution of a Children's Domestic Violence Counseling Group: Stage and Processes. Journal for Specialists In Group Work, 36(3), 178-201.
doi:10.1080/01933922.2011.578118

6. Professional Resource Link.
 Evaluating effectiveness of therapy
from a victims perspective.
 Website:
http://ct.counseling.org/2014/03/working-
through-the-hurt/
 The developmental effects of
domestic violence on children.
 Website reccomended by expert:
UNICEF (2006). Impact of Domestic
Violence on Children and Youth.
Retrieved from: URL
https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/syst
emwide/domviolence/impact/children-
youth/

7. References
NIJ.CDC (2014). Full Report of the Prevalence, Incidence, and Consequences of Violence against
Women: Findings from the National Violence against Women Survey. Retrieved from:
https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/183781.pdf
Roddy, J. K. (2013). Client perspectives: The therapeutic challenge of domestic violence counselling –
a pilot study. Counselling & Psychotherapy Research, 13(1), 53-60. doi:10.1080/14733145.2012.711340
Thompson, E. H. (2011). The Evolution of a Children's Domestic Violence Counseling Group: Stages
and Processes. Journal for Specialists In Group Work, 36(3), 178-201. doi:10.1080/01933922.2011.578118